Horns vs. No horns. What do you like best?

[Mamaboid]

As with most goat things, there is no right or wrong answer. We raise Myotonics and also have some dairy for our own milking needs. We have polled, dehorned, and horned all together with no problems. I personally will never disbud any of our goats. I have no problem if somebody wants to buy one of ours and pay to have it done, or do it themselves after the sale, but I will never do it. I am not squeamish about too many things, but this is just something I will never do myself. I personally like horns better.

 

[SuburbanFarmChic]

Our cashmere goats keep their horns though. As well as our Boer doe. Neither use them on people and the fiber goats need them for cooling.

Maybe goats are different, but I have to disagree as I have polled sheep that do not overheat and they survived pretty well this past summer in 1-2 wks straight of 100+ degree temps just by staying in the shade.

Cashmere goats w/o horns don't handle heat as well as cashmere goats with horns. However, if one starts using their horns on people... either they go or the horns do.

 

[woodsie]

I think it really depends what you are going to do with them and what your situation is....we have always had horns and just recently got two Nubian does that had been disbudded. I must say that I breathe much easier when my kids are playing with the hornless does than the ones with the horns....we let the goats out for some romp around time and to "play" with them and it is just too scary to have goofy goats running around with my kids when their horns are right at eye level....and while I am always supervising the interactions with the hornless goats as well but it is much easier when there aren't sharp pointy things waving around eye level of my kids either.

 

[redtailgal]

My goats are all horned, mostly because I don't care if they have horns or not so I dont see the need in putting them thru the dehorning process.

One of the reasons I don't care is that I wouldn't feel safer around de-horned goats........Maybe my goats are strange, I don't know. But when they butt, they drop their head and butt with the top of their head. There is very little horn involved at all, AND they are all hard headed enough that they could knock me silly even without horns. So, I've taught my goats a VERY valuable life lesson.........it's really really not cool to head butt mom.

All the horns here point backward, making it near impossible to "gore" anyone. Cattle horns are different, they point forward and the bull will actually "take aim" to gore. There is a big difference between head butting and goring and each needs to be handled differently.

We also havent had any problems with any goats getting caught in the fence either. I'm sorta snotty about it when they get "caught". I dont rescue them. I let them stand there and holler and be good and miserable while they figure it out themselves. My goats no longer stick their head where it doesnt belong. (I do keep watch on them to make sure they dont get hurt and would help one if I was confident it couldnt get loose. I wouldnt be nice about helping, though)

I agree with the others that have said its just a matter of personal preference. Disbudding is not for me, and I dont have any issue with goat horns. So, we have horns. I do get some enjoyment from their horns, as strange as it sounds. My wether, Socrates, LOVES to "horn a tree", and makes scrapes very similar to what a deer does. It's so funny to watch him do this as he take absolute DELIGHT in making his scrape, by taking a small sapling and getting it between his horns and rubbing the bark off with an up and down motion and a little side to side wiggle, all while grunting like a pig.

Sorry, my life wouldnt be complete without seeing him "horn" these trees!

 

[Straw Hat Kikos]

One of the reasons I don't care is that I wouldn't feel safer around de-horned goats........Maybe my goats are strange, I don't know. But when they butt, they drop their head and butt with the top of their head. There is very little horn involved at all, AND they are all hard headed enough that they could knock me silly even without horns. So, I've taught my goats a VERY valuable life lesson.........it's really really not cool to head butt mom.

All the horns here point backward, making it near impossible to "gore" anyone. Cattle horns are different, they point forward and the bull will actually "take aim" to gore. There is a big difference between head butting and goring and each needs to be handled differently.

 

[PendergrassRanch]

I prefer horns and I will not be removing my kids horns. I think they are beautiful and I find the disbudding practice to be really cruel. I understand the reason behind it, its just not something I want to participate in.

 

[lovinglife]

I am battling this question myself. My goats had horns in the past and I never had any problem with them, sometimes they came in handy, but I see the reasoning to them NOT having horns, but I don't have a problem with horns, so why should I disbud them.... I am on the fence here... I don't want to do it and I will not do it at first, I may change my mind in the future if I get more into it... I hope that sounded as mixed up as I feel about this issue...

 

[PendergrassRanch]

Horns also make excellent handles to steer them with.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

It's personal preference, really. Sort of like the "should I declaw my cat?" debate with pet owners.

I have had Boers (all horned) and now we have disbudded dairy goats. We do have one that is horned. It is possible to get punctured or scratched badly by horns, so it is not entirely impossible. I have had a doe in the past that would turn her head and hook you with a horn. Not pleasant!

Are horns a natural defense? Not that much. If they up against a predator such as a coyote, cougar, or bear, what are horns really going to do? They are just there for pecking order control in the herd from what I have observed. On that note, our horned Nubian doe is actually the least submissive. However, I do not feel confortable with her being around small kids because her horns are right at eye level.

We made the decision to disbud our goats from now on for safety and in the event we decide to show some of our Nubians. Some people just like the look.

 

[Mamaboid]

. So, I've taught my goats a VERY valuable life lesson.........it's really really not cool to head butt mom.

Yup!! Same rule applies here. Reinforced by Mom WILL use your horns to throw your butt on the ground and put her foot on you til you behave. Our Dandy boy is about one more arrogant head toss away from learning this lesson. Seems every buck has to have the lesson at about 8 months. Only ever have to do it once per goat. LOL